MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMEXT STATION. 



29 



at tliis Station. At first some ditterent types of commercial 

 brooders were tested. The results, however, were not satis- 

 factory. Before the hatching season of 1910 it was decided to 

 try on an experimental scale a brooder devised to o^•ercome 

 the objections mentioned above to brqoders of the type for- 

 merly userl. The results obtained were strikingly favorable to 



tiG. 5. Showing brooder installed and ready for operation. 



the new brooders. In this bulletin is given a detailed descrip- 

 tion of this brooder, together with working plans so that any 

 poultryman can construct one for his own use if he cares to do 

 so. 



The arlvantages which have been found to accrue from the 

 use of this brooder at tlie Maine Station fall into two general 

 c'tegories. The first of these is that it is possible to rear in 

 this brooder a larger number of chickens in proportion to the 

 number originally put in than in any other brooder with which 

 the Station has had any experience. That is, the mortality 

 rate of chicks raised in this brooder, is relatively low, particu- 

 larly as compared with brooders of the old type. Furthermore 



